Braiding machine



July 30, 1929. HOPKINSON BRAIDING MACHINE Filed March 16. 192'! 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.3.

[NI/[Al TOR my I A 7 TOR/VEY July 30, 1929.. A. HOPKINSON BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Marh 16. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 30, 1929.

ALFRED HOPKINSON,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF HYDE, ENGLAND.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

Application filed March 16, 1927, Serial No. 175,885, and in Great Britain April 28, 1926.

This invention relates to the tension and thread or yarn releasing device for braiding machine to maintain the thread taut and compensate ior slackness caused by thevarying length of the thread as it passes from one bobbin over and under another bobbin.

The thread or yarn holder is ordinarily constructed with a flange notched or indented against which a detent lever or pawl engages or with a flange against which a brake contacts to lock or hold the bobbin against rotation until released and a pivoted spring controlled tension lever with guides at one or both ends over which the thread passes, which as the tension thereon increases is moved to withdraw the pawl 0r brake and release the bobbin.

According to the invention the device comprises a pivoted lever carrying a brake block to engage the flange of the thread holder, a

spring controlled oscillating two member tension lever, one member of which is longer than the other, the long member being provided with (or connected with) a thread eye or guide moving with it and its short memher with or without a thread eye or guide adjacent to and acting upon the brake lever, a

fixed guide or guides around or through which the thread passes so disposed in relation to the tension lever that the movement of the long member of the lever in one direction will decrease the path of the thread and in the other direction will increase the path of the thread, the short member of the lever engageing the brake lever to release or withdraw the brake from the yarn holder when the tension reaches its limit to permit the drawing off from the bobbin a further supply of thread.

The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which the invention is shown detached from the braiding machine.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a plan. a

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of another form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is'a side elevation of same.

Fig. 6'is a plan.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing another form. a

, The rotary thread holder A or A is of known construction mounted ona llateCorC to rotate as the thread is drawn 6 therefrom with a flange e or a and central spindle aar a to hold the thread supply, the flange being acted upon by a brake B or B to prevent rotation while a supply of thread is not required to be drawn off the bobbin.

The brake B or B is carried by a brake lover I), b or ZF pivoted and fulcrumed at one end upon the plate C or C and of such a length that the power required to move it against the pull of a strong spring G or G is very slight. The brake. lever Z) or b is horizontal and the brake block B or B thereon engages and is pressed against the flange a or a of the bobbin carrier A or A by the spring G or G The free end of the lever b or 5 extends to one side of the thread holder A or A to be engaged by the short member of a tension lever also carried upon the plate C or C operated by the tension of or pull of the thread. This constructioneitects a smooth and practically constant tension on the thread as the release takes place with a minimum amount of force or pressure on the long arm of the tension lever and obviates any jar or unevenness in the release of the thread from the bobbin.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 3 on the plate or bracket C upon which the thread holder A is mounted. a spring controlled two member lever D capable of being oscillated or rocked to one side or the other is pivoted or fulcrumed upon a pivot (Z much nearer to one end than the other so that one arm or mei'nber (Z is much longer than the other member (1 the shorter arm or member (Z being adjacent to the free end of the brake lever b. It is formed with a thread eye or thread guide at both ends preferably guide roller (Z and d. An adjustable spring G is fitted to hold the lever D in working position against the. pull of the thread a: passing over the guide. rollers (Z, d, or through a guide eye at the end of the long member d Two thread eyes or thread guides 0, c on posts C C respectively are fiXe'cLto the plate C in any position a suitable distance apart to direct the yarn it off the bobbin E and towards the braiding eye. The thread m is passed around a vertical guide post H through the two fixed guide eyes 0, c and around the guide rollers (Z, (Z of the oscillating lever D and as the pull on the thread increases the long member d of the lever D is rocked in a forward direction decreasing the path of the thread bet-ween the two guide eyes, easing the tension and finall pulling the lever over that the spar:- memb r 12* the am of them-ate era 5 wine drawing the brake B and permitting a furthersupply of thread to unwind from the bobbin. As the tension or pull on the thread is thereby reduced the lover I) is rocked in the reverse direction, the path of the thread between the guide eyes 0, 0 increased and any slackin the thread taken up thereby maintaining it at an even tension. The same; movement takes place when the path of the thread is increased between the guide eye 0 and the braiding centre consequent upon passing over and under the bobbin of the inner set the tension on the thread being kept practically constant.

In addition to the guide rollers cl, (Z the thread may also pass round alight spring finger K afiixed to the stem or post C of the guide eye 0 which while normal tension is maintained will be drawn away from the post (see Fig. 2) but should the tension cease through too much thread being unwound from the bobbin the finger K will spring back against the post C and trap and hold the thread until normal tension is restored. A stop rod M is suspended from the yarn or whlch when the yarn breaks or becomes too slack falls through the tube m in which it is suspended and engages a stop motion (not shown).

In the form shown in Fig. 7 a spring controlled two member lever N having one arm longer than the other and capable of being oscillated or rocked is pivoted upon a bracket on a plate C with its short member n adjacent to the free end of a brake lever Z2 which is similar to that shown in plan Fig. 6. The lever N is formed with a thread guide or eye a at the end of the long arm a and a thread guide or eye 0 on a vertical guide post is fitted to the plate C at a suitable distance from the eye a to direct the thread in toward the braiding eye. The lever N is connected by a link a to a stop rod M and is drawn down by a spring as in Figs. t and 5. The yarn m is passed around a vertical guide post as in Fig. 4 through the eye a in the oscillating lever N and through the fixed guide eye. As the pull of the thread increases the lever N is rocked upwards decreasing the path of the thread easing the tension and finally pulling the lever so far that the short arm or member a engagesv the end of the brake lever withdrawing the brake and permitting a further supply of thread to unwind from thebobbin. As the pull of the thread is thereby reduced the lever N is rocked in the reverse direction, the path of the thread is increaesd and any slack taken up maintaining the tension even.

In the form shown in Figs. 4 to 6 on the plate or bracket C upon which a thread holder A with a flange a and a central spindle a is mounted, a spring controlled two member lever N one arm or member longer than the other, capable of being oscillated or rocked is pivoted the short arm or member adjacent to the "free end of the brake lever 12 The long arm or member n of the lever N is connected by a link 'it to a. movable rod M provided with a thread guide or eye m Thread 40. passes around a vertical post H to a thread guide or eye 0 on a vertical guide post fitted; to the plate C at a suitable distance from the eye m to direct the thread 1: toward the braiding eye. The brake lever 12 carryingthe brake block B is pivoted to oscillate below the bobbin carrier A the brake being applied to the flange a of the bobbin carrier A by a spring G The lever N is drawn down and tension applied to the thread: 02 as it passes through the guide eye m by a spring G The rod M also serves as a stop rod to stop the machine when the thread 12: breaks or becomes. too slack. As the tension on the thread increases the rod M is raised and the lever N rocked until the end a engages the free end ofthe brake lever b and relieves the pressure oi the brake block B upon the flange a 'of the bobbin carrier, and permits a further supply of thread to be unwound, on the tension of the thread being thus reduced the lever N rocks in the reverse direction again applying the brake to maintain a constant tension.

In normal position of the tension lever the brake engages the yarn holder flange to retain it from rotation but when the tension leveris: rocked to any great extent it engages the brake lever and releases the bobbin holder.

The invention may be applied to either the outeror inner bobbins of the braiding machine.

What; I claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. A tension device for braiding machines comprising'a flanged thread holder, a pivoted lever carrying a brake block to engage the flange of the-thread holder, a spring controlled rocking lever having one member much longer than the other, the long member being provided with a thread guide or eye movingwith it and the short: member adjacent to and actingupon the brake lever, a fixed guide or guides around orthrough which the thread passesv so disposed in relation to the rocking lever that the movement of the long member of the lever in one direction will decrease the path of the thread, and in the other will increase the path of the thread, the short arm or member of the lever releasing or withdrawing the brake from the yarn holder when the tension reaches its-limit, to permit the drawing 0E from the bobbin a further supplvyof thread.

2.- A tension device tor braiding machines comprising the combination of a brake lever and brake, a thread holder, a flange thereon upon which the brake lever and brake act, two

thread guides oreyes relatively disposed at 1 a constant distance apart, a spring controlled rocking lever divided into two members one and finally release the brake, and movement longer than the other and provided with a in the other direction will lengthen the path 10 thread guide at each end around or through of the thread and take up the slack between which the thread from the bobbin is passed, the fixed thread eyes or guides substantially 5 the rocking lever being so disposed in relaas described.

tion to the fixed thread guides or eyes that In testimony whereof I have hereunto set the movement in one direction will shorten my hand. the path of the thread, increase the tension ALFRED HOPKINSON. 

